CHANGES TO BENEFITS
The benefits system has been changing since April 2011. Some of the major changes have taken place as of April 2013, and more changes are planned before the full programme is completed in 2017.
Within this page we aim to bring you up to date news of the latest developments and how these will affect you.
Which benefits will be affected?
Many of our tenants receive benefits of one kind or another and almost all benefits will be affected by these changes. Job seekers allowance, Housing benefit, Child tax credits, Income support, Incapacity benefit, Disability living allowance and Social Funds ……all of these benefits will be affected.
Which change is likely to have the greatest impact?
This depends on individual circumstances, however the ‘migration’ from your current benefit award to Universal Credit and the Under Occupancy Charge (Bedroom Tax) will have the greatest impact for most people (please click on relevant side tabs for further details)
What will happen to my benefits?
The changes to the benefits system has a number of objectives such as encouraging more people to get back into work. One aim of the Reforms is to reduce the amount of money the Government spends on benefits each year: as such, many if not most people will face a reduction in benefit income. Taking this into consideration it will be important for those receiving benefits to budget their income.
When will these changes take place?
Some changes are already underway with more expected from October 2013 and in the months that follow.
What can I do to prepare for these changes?
There are a number of key steps to take to ensure you are prepared for the changes: knowing what benefit you receive, being aware of the income and age of anyone living within your home and ensuring you have a bank account for your benefit payments to be paid into, are some of the initial steps we would advise taking.
We understand however, taking these steps and knowing exactly how the changes will affect you can be both a challenging and daunting experience. If you feel you need any help or information please contact your area housing manager or Hastoe Direct. Please click on the side tabs for further information on specific changes.